MILESTONES: Onazi ‘scores’, Ambode rejoices, and other events that caught our attention last week

ELECTED:

Supo Ayokunle was elected President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

The election took place on Tuesday, June 14, at the National Ecumenical Centre Abuja.

Mr. Ayokunle, a reverend, currently serves as National President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention and takes over the CAN leadership from Ayo Oritsejafor.

At the poll, Mr. Ayokunle defeated his rival, Joseph Otubu of the Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Movement with 54 votes to 28.

HONOURED:

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State was awarded the 2015 Zik Prize for Leadership. administered by Lagos-based Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC).

Mr. Obiano received the award at a ceremony on Sunday, June 19, 2016 in Lagos.

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and Ibikunle Amosun were also honoured in the Good Governance category of the Prize

While Obiano was honoured for two years of ‘sterling performance’, his co-winners are both well into their second terms in office having served their first terms of four years each.

========

Lekan Otufodunrin, Online Editor, The Nation Newspapers, was on Sunday, June honoured for his contribution to journalism in Nigeria.

The ‘Special Recognition” was made by postgraduate students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, at the institute’s premises.

Mr. Otufodunrin is the founder of Journalists for Christ International Outreach Nigeria; Media Career Services and a member of the governing board of Journalists Against AIDS.

He is Fellow of Thomson Foundation, Cardiff, United Kingdom and Fellow of Poynter Institute (School for Journalists) Florida, United States.

ANNIVERSARY:

Akinwumi Ambode, Governor of Lagos State Governor, on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, marked his 53rd birthday.

Mr. Ambode used the occasion of a special luncheon to raise funds for the provision of three Mobile Cancer Centres across the three Senatorial Districts in the State.

He also used the event to call attention to the need for Nigerians to unite in the effort to prevent sufferings and deaths of millions of Nigerians.

WEDDED:

Eddy Ogenyi Onazi, Super Eagles and SS Lazio of Italy midfielder, on Saturday, June 18, married his heart-throb, Sandra Osagioduwa Ogunsuyi.

A good number of Super Eagles’ players attended the impressive ceremony at the Faith Tabernacle in Lekki, with President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, and other federation’s officials also in attendance.

The Super Eagles’ line-up at the event included Assistant Captain, Ahmed Musa, Odion Ighalo, Kenneth Omeruo, John Ogu, Moses Simon, Brown Ideye, Anthony Ujah, Raheem Lawal, Obinna Nsofor and Sunday Mba

The Special Assistant (Sports) to Lagos State Governor Ambode, Adeyinka Adeboye, NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire; Super Eagles’ administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor; Eagles’ media officer, Toyin Ibitoye and Eagles’ equipment manager, Godfirst Chike also graced the occasion.

PASSAGE:

Chucks Ehirim, former chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Abuja chapter, passed on Thursday, June 16, in Abuja. His sudden death coincided with his 50th birthday.

He was chairman of the Abuja chapter of the NUJ between 2012 and 2015.

Mr. Ehirim graduated in 1992 from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and worked with several Nigerian publications.

He was assistant editor, northern operations, of the Niche Magazine before his death.